Toilet mounting plate

ABSTRACT

A mounting plate for securing a pressure vessel having a threaded discharge outlet within a tank of a one-piece toilet generally includes an elongate member, a pair of spaced apart openings, a pair of bolts passing through the respective openings, nuts holding the bolts in place, and a threaded hole disposed between the spaced apart openings and engaging the threaded discharge outlet. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the mounting plate is provided and screwed onto the vessel discharge outlet by way of the threaded hole and thereafter the member is secured with the vessel to a one-piece toilet.

The present invention is generally related to pressurized flushing systems and is more particularly directed to a mounting plate for securing a pressure vessel to a one-piece toilet.

Heretofore, in gravity feed toilets having a tank above the level of a toilet bowl have been utilized for generations. In order to conserve water, pressurized flushed toilets have been developed in a variety of types.

Many pressurized flushed toilets include a pressurized reservoir vessel and such vessels have been developed for retrofitting existing toilets.

While it is desirable to be able to use a pressurized flushed reservoir vessel in two piece toilets, in which the toilet tank is one-piece and the toilet bowl is another separate piece, it is also desirable to easily retrofit a pressurized flushed vessel into a one-piece toilet.

This, however, is not practical in the case of one-piece toilets not having a threaded inlet for accommodating a pressure vessel having a threaded discharge outlet.

The present invention provides for a mounting plate for enabling the use of a pressure vessel having a threaded discharge outlet with a one-piece toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mounting plate for securing a pressure vessel having a threaded discharge outlet, in accordance with the present invention, for use within a tank of a one-piece toilet generally includes an elongate member including a pair of spaced apart openings therein.

A pair of bolts are provided for passing through each of the respective openings and nuts holding the bolts in place within the respective openings are also provided in accordance with the present invention.

A threaded hole is disposed between the spaced apart openings for engaging a threaded discharge outlet.

Preferably, the openings are slots which enable adjustment of the bolts therein for accommodating differently spaced openings in the one-piece toilet to which the mounting plate and pressure vessel are to be attached.

More particularly, the nuts may include plastic members for temporarily positioning the bolts within the respective openings for alignment with the one-piece toilet.

A method in accordance with the present invention for securing a pressure vessel, having a threaded discharge outlet, within a tank of a one-piece toilet generally includes providing an elongate member having a pair of spaced apart openings with a threaded hole therebetween and screwing the member onto the vessel discharge outlet by way of the threaded hole. Thereafter, the member with the vessel attached is secured to the one-piece toilet.

More particularly, the securing of the member onto the vessel includes inserting bolts through the spaced apart openings prior to screwing the member onto vessel discharge outlet.

Preferably, the openings are slots and the method further includes screwing positioning nuts onto the inserted bolts to hold the bolts within the opening during screwing of the member onto the vessel discharge outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood and appreciated with reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the appended drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting plate in accordance with the present invention for securing a pressure vessel having a threaded discharge outlet, along with the bolts and nuts in accordance with the present invention within a tank of a one-piece toilet, not shown, and not part of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bottom of the mounting plate shown in FIG. 1 shown in an inverted position in accordance with the method of the present invention for securing the plate to the pressure vessel shown in FIG. 1 prior to inversion and mounting to a one-piece toilet tank; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a mounting plate in accordance with the present invention particularly illustrating a variance in geometrical shapes incorporated into the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a mounting plate 10 in accordance with the present invention for securing a pressure vessel 12 having a threaded discharge outlet 14 within a one-piece toilet tank (not shown). The pressure vessel 12 may be made in accordance with pressure vessels described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/985,260 filed Nov. 10, 2004 and Ser. No. 10/719,931 filed Nov. 20, 2003. No further description of the pressure vessel 12 is not included herewith for brevity. However, U.S. Ser. Nos. 10/985,260 and 10/719,931 hereinabove cited are to be incorporated herewith in their entirety including all specification and drawings for describing the pressure vessel 12 in accordance with the present invention.

The mounting plate 10 includes an elongate member 20 made from any suitable material and includes a pair of spaced apart openings 24, 26 which are preferably of slot configuration for allowing lateral movement of bolts 30, 32 respective to slot openings 24, 26 for enabling positioning therein as indicated by arrows 38, 40 to accommodate various spacings of receiving holes in the one-piece toilet (not shown), the one-piece toilet not being part of the present invention.

The bolts 30, 32 may be formed from any conventional material and plastic nuts 36, 38 may be provided for temporarily securing the bolts 30, 32 in respective openings 24, 26 at a preferred spacing within the openings 24, 26 for accommodation by correspondingly spaced openings (not shown) in the one-piece tank (not shown).

The elongate member 20 includes a threaded hole 42 disposed between the openings 24, 26 for threadably engaging the discharge outlet 14.

A method in accordance with the present invention for securing the pressure vessel 12 within a one-piece toilet tank includes the providing of the mounting plate 10, hereinabove described, and screwing the member 10 onto the vessel discharge outlet 14 by way of the threaded hole 42 by rotation as indicated by the arrows 46, 48 in FIG. 2 which illustrates a bottom 52 of the pressure vessel 12.

The method in accordance with the present invention further includes inserting the bolts 30, 32 through the spaced apart openings 24, 26 prior and screwing the nuts 36, 38 thereto against a bottom 56 of the elongate member 20 to slidably fix the bolts 30, 32 to the elongate member 20 for enabling adjustment of a distance D therebetween subsequent to screwing of the mounting plate 10 to the pressure vessel 12 threaded outlet 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 3 there is an alternative embodiment mounting plate 60 in accordance with the present invention including a pair of spaced apart openings 62, 64 with a threaded hole 68 disposed therebetween, the embodiment 60 being illustrated for demonstrating that any suitable overall perimeter 70 may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific toilet mounting plate in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A mounting plate for securing a pressure vessel, having a threaded discharge outlet, within a tank of a one-piece toilet, said mounting plate comprising: an elongate member; a pair of spaced apart openings; a pair of bolts each bolt passing through a respective opening; nuts holding the bolts in place; and a threaded hole disposed between the spaced apart openings and engaging the threaded discharge outlet.
 2. The plate according to claim 1 wherein openings are slots.
 3. The plate according to claim 1 wherein said nuts comprises plastic members temporarily positioning the bolts within the respective openings for alignment with said one-piece toilet.
 4. A method for securing a pressure vessel, having a threaded discharge outlet, within a tank of a one-piece toilet, the method comprising: providing an elongate member having a pair of spaced apart openings with a threshold hole therebetween; screwing the member onto the vessel discharge outlet by way of said threaded hole; and securing the member with vessel attached to the one-piece toilet.
 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein securing the member onto the vessel includes inserting bolts through said spaced apart openings.
 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the bolts are inserted through the opening before the member is screwed onto the vessel discharge outlet.
 7. The method according to claim 6 further comprises screwing positioning nuts onto the inserted bolts to hold the bolts within the opening during screwing of the member onto the vessel discharge.
 8. A method for securing a pressure vessel, having a threaded discharge outlet, within a tank of a one-piece toilet, the method comprising: providing an elongate member having a pair of spaced apart slot openings with a threshold hole therebetween; screwing the member onto the vessel discharge outlet by way of said threaded hole; and securing the member with vessel attached to the one-piece toilet.
 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein securing the member onto the vessel includes inserting bolts through said spaced apart openings.
 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the bolts are inserted through the slot opening before the member is screwed onto the vessel discharge outlet.
 11. The method according to claim 10 further comprises screwing positioning nuts onto the inserted bolts and positioning the bolts within the slot opening before screwing of the member onto the vessel discharge.
 12. The method according to claim 11 further comprises adjusting a distance between the bolt after screwing the member onto the vessel discharge outlet. 